Oklahoma Public Schools Seek Record Number Of Emergency Teacher Certifications

Teachers march at the Oklahoma capitol during the teacher walkout in April 2018.

Jacob McCleland / Oklahoma Public Media Exchange

Oklahoma’s State Board of Education is set to approve a record-breaking number of emergency teaching certifications at its meeting Thursday, a strong indication a statewide teacher shortage is still growing.

Oklahoma school districts requested more than 900 emergency teaching certifications in August alone. Board members are expected to approve the requests, officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Education told StateImpact, bringing the total number of emergency certified teachers for the 2018-2019 school year to 2,153 — a roughly 9 percent increase from the 1,975 issued the previous school year.

Districts request permission to hire emergency certified candidates when they are unable to find traditionally qualified educators to fill open positions.

Oklahoma teachers got a $6,000 average pay raise this year, and there were hopes this would help turn the teacher shortage around. State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said competitive pay is a first step.

“Our teachers are needing resources in their classrooms, our students need textbooks, our new teachers need training,” she said.

Hofmeister said continued investment in education and respect for teachers will also help encourage educators to continue working in the classroom.

Results from a new survey show the recent teacher pay raise has had little immediate effect on the state’s teacher shortage, and that schools will still start the year with nearly 500 unfilled positions.

On the night of the primary elections, Ainsley Hoover was at a small watch party at the Chili’s restaurant in Enid. She had helped her friend, a fellow teacher, campaign for House District 41, and they were anxiously awaiting the results.

Hoover, who was also tracking the vote totals for House District 40 with hopes the incumbent in that seat would lose, says she didn’t use to be political. When Hoover did vote, it was usually in the presidential election.

Well, it is back to school season. Millions of teachers across this country are getting their lesson plans together. They're decorating their bulletin boards. Others, though, are busy elsewhere, like on the campaign trail.